JPH07200768A - IC card for small computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the use of an IC card for microcomputer for a special compact electronic equipment for which the use of the card has been conventionally impossible. CONSTITUTION:In a card frame 1, a card main body 20 having an L-character notched part is fixedly stored. In the card frame 1, a space part 8 on which a micromodule 30 which is attachable to a used equipment is mounted. The micromodule 30 is inserted in the used equipment and object data is stored. Next, the micromodule 30 is extracted, this micromodule is inserted into the space part 8 of the card frame 1, the micromudule is electrically connected with the card main body 20, they are integrally combined, this is inserted into the card slot of a microcomputer and the processing of data is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card most suitable for data processing of medical equipment, small recorders, OA equipment, information equipment, measuring instruments, digital still cameras, and other small electronic equipment. .

[0002]

As is well known, ICs for small computers such as personal computers, notebook computers and palmtop personal computers.
With the spread of cards (hereinafter referred to as IC cards for PCs) and the spread of PCs equipped with IC card slots, the use of IC cards for PCs is advancing in the fields of medical equipment, measuring instruments, etc. An IC card for a personal computer is attached to a device used such as a medical device, measurement data is written in the IC card, and the card is inserted / removed after the data is recorded.
This is inserted into a personal computer and the measurement data is processed and displayed.
It is used for printing and saving.
By the way, in an IC card for a personal computer, a memory IC or the like is mounted on a printed circuit board and housed in a robust thin container, and a mechanically fragile memory IC is protected by a structure in which an external force is not directly applied to the IC. In addition, since it is operated manually, a reasonable size is required, and the current business card size is standard. Therefore, depending on the application of the equipment used, downsizing of the IC card for personal computers is required,
Although half-size IC cards for personal computers, which are half the size of business cards, are currently in practical use, smaller ones have not been realized due to restrictions such as operability, reliability, and standardization of standards.

[0003]

By the way, in a small electronic device (for example, a medical device, a measuring device, etc.) for collecting a large amount of data and processing the collected data, when it is difficult to use unless it is small in size. Needs to reduce the size of some of the required functions and still achieve miniaturization. for that reason,
Part of the original performance of the equipment is sacrificed, and it is not possible to incorporate sufficient functions into the equipment. In such a small electronic device, if it is possible to mount an IC card for a personal computer, the processing of collected data can be entrusted to the personal computer.
The functional load on the device itself is reduced, and the specialized functions can be enhanced accordingly. However, the IC card for a personal computer is designed from the viewpoint of operability, reliability, standardization, etc., and it is difficult to realize miniaturization as much as a special device requires.

The present invention has been made in view of the present situation and problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card for a small computer which can be used for a small electronic device. A PC equipped with a slot can be used for data processing of these special small electronic devices.

[0005]

The inventor of the present invention, when using a special small-sized electronic device, inserts a micromodule into the used device to store the desired data,
After that, the micromodule is removed, and this is combined with an IC card for personal computer to make a complete IC card.
A C card can be inserted into a card slot of a personal computer for data processing, and the micromodule basically has a nonvolatile memory IC and a connector (electrical connection structure). However, a functional element other than the memory IC (CPU, communication IC, etc.) may be mounted, and it is also possible to make contactless by electromagnetic coupling without using a connector, and the size is similar to that of a wristwatch. Since it is not so difficult to finish it into a small size that can be built into equipment using the current hybrid IC technology, use it by attaching a micro module that can be attached and detached to the equipment used to the IC card for a personal computer. I thought that the conventional problems could be solved all at once. Then, as a result of repeated trial manufacture, the present invention could be completed. Small computer IC according to the present invention
The card solves the above problems and is as follows. That is, a card frame and a card body housed in the card frame are provided, and the card body has a cutout portion into which a micromodule that is attachable to and detachable from a device used is attached and formed by the cutout portion. The present invention is characterized in that a micro module is mounted in the card frame space portion and united with the card body.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and its operation. FIG. 1 shows a small computer I according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a C card, and FIG. 2 is A- in FIG.
In these drawings, which are sectional views taken along the line A, the IC card for a personal computer includes a card frame 1 and a card body 20. The card frame 1 is a vertically long quadrangle in plan view, and is formed by both side frame bodies 2 and 3 in the longitudinal direction and one side frame body 4 in the lateral direction, and the other in the lateral direction is open. A card body 20 is fixedly stored in the card frame 1. The card body 20 has an L-shaped notch portion into which a micro module 30 described later that is detachably attached to a device used such as a medical device is attached, and the frame opening side thereof is a standard standard for fitting with a card slot of a personal computer. Card connector 21
However, connectors 22 to which the micromodules 30 are electrically connected are respectively provided on the short-side end faces of the cutout portions, and furthermore, an electrical interface circuit 23 with a personal computer and a control circuit 24 of the micromodules 30 are provided on the board.
Etc. are installed. In the card frame 1, the L-shaped cutout portion of the card body 20 causes the card connector 21 and the frame body portion 5 of the side frame body 2 and the intermediate short side frame body 6 opposite to the frame body portion 5 and The frame body portion 7 of the side frame body 4 forms a space portion 8 in which the micro module 30 is mounted, and the frame body portion 7 is provided with a horizontally elongated rectangular hole 9 into which the micro module 30 is inserted. A guide groove 10 for positioning the micromodule 30 is formed in the body portion 5 and the short side frame body 6. The micromodule 30 is a known one, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a memory IC chip or the like is mounted on a printed circuit board 31, and a protective cover 32 for the IC chip is provided.
At the edge of the printed circuit board 31, the card body connector 22
An edge connector 33 that is electrically connected to the shutter is provided. Also, although not particularly shown, the edge connector is provided with a shutter mechanism cover so as not to be touched by the human body and cause electrostatic damage. Further, a lock mechanism for fixing the position of the device when the device is used and preventing the device from falling off is attached.

The IC card of the present invention having the above structure is
It is used as follows. That is, when using a special small electronic device such as a medical device or a measuring device, first, the micromodule 30 is inserted into the device (not shown) to be used to store target data. Next, the micro module 30 is taken out and inserted into the card frame space portion 8 through the card frame insertion hole 9, and the edge connector 3
3 and the card connector 22 are electrically connected to each other so that the micromodule 30 is completely united with the card body 20. The present IC card having the micromodule 30 mounted therein is inserted into a card slot of a small computer to process data. Is done. In this way, even for a small electronic device in which the small computer IC card cannot be used, the small computer IC can be inserted through the micromodule 30.
The card can now be used.

The IC card for a small computer according to the present invention can be applied to a wide range of applications in addition to measurement. That is, an electronic book converted into an IC card for a personal computer
If protected with a card, the protective storage case also becomes large and the price increases, so it is stored in a micromodule and used by being attached to this IC card when necessary. Also,
Micro modules are smaller and lighter than IC cards for personal computers, so they are convenient to carry. The same applies to a digital camera and a digital audio IC card. In addition to memory cards, there are a wide variety of I / O cards, communication cards, audio cards, wireless cards, navigation cards, etc., and these cards are connectors for connection (card connectors), personal computers and interface circuits, and cards. The envelopes of are all the same. Therefore, if the common part is used as the IC card and different functions are incorporated in the micro module, it is convenient and compact for portable use.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the IC card for a small computer can be used in a small electronic device which cannot be used by the conventional IC card for a small computer, and its application range is wide. It has a great effect on information processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an IC card for a small computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a micromodule.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 card frame 8 space part 10 guide groove 20 card body 30 micro module

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An IC card which is inserted into a card slot of a small computer to process data.
A card frame and a card body housed in the card frame are provided, and the card body has a cutout portion into which a micromodule detachably attached to a device to be used is attached, and the card frame space formed by the cutout portion. An IC card for a small computer, characterized in that a micromodule is attached to a part thereof and is integrated with the card body.